Prince protege Vanity dies at 57

Denise Matthews, who as Vanity fronted the group Vanity 6 but was best known for her collaboration with Prince, has died at a hospital in Fremont, California.

Her death was confirmed by Gisela Hernandez, spokeswoman for Washington Hospital Health Care System. Hernandez did not say when Matthews died or under what circumstances.

She was 57 years old, according to her biography on the Internet Movie Database.

Matthews was born in Canada and began her career as a model. She took on film roles, playing mostly sultry characters beginning in 1980, including in the movies “52 Pick-Up” and “Action Jackson.”

And in 1982 she headlined the group Vanity 6, which had a close association with Prince. The band published only one album, allmusic.com said in a biography on the band.

In the mid 1990s, Matthews turned her back on the entertainment industry and dedicated herself to her Christian faith, eventually becoming an evangelist. As a devout Christian, she spoke with disdain of her former career, saying she had been miserable throughout it.

Another former Prince protege Sheila E, also a professing Christian, said goodbye to Matthews in a tweet.

“SADDEN my FRIEND IN CHRIST gone 2day. Vanity, Denise Matthews. MISS YOU DEARLY. U ARE IN HIS ARMS NOW, NO Pain,” she said.